Baby crib mattress elevator



Nov. 10, 1953 J. J. ROBBINS 2,658,207

BABY CRIB MATTRESS ELEVATOR Filed Jan. 4, 1950 3 Sheets-Sheet l IIIIIII INVENTOR. JESSE J POSS/N5 Filed Jan. 4, 1950 J. J. ROBBINS BABY CRIB MATTRESS ELEVATOR 3 Sheets-Sheet 2 34 INVENTOR. I

Nov. 10, 1953 J. J. ROBBINS 2,558,207

BABY CRIB MATTRESS ELEVATOR Filed Jan. 4, 1950 s Sheets-Sheet s INVENTOR. Jesse J Ease/N5 Q Q& Q

Patented Nov. 10, 1 953 BABY CRIB MATTRESS ELEVATOR Jesse J. Robbins, Glendale, Calif., assignor to Stylofede Corporation, a corporation of California Application January 4, 1950, Serial No. 136,762

9 Claims.

The invention relates to mechanisms used in a baby crib or the like for adjusting the height of the mattress frame, and more particularly to such mechanisms as may be operated by manual crankin to raise and lower the mattress frame as may be desired.

Mechanisms of the character described heretofore available have been relatively complicated and costly in their construction and installation, usually requiring pawl and ratchet types of devices, springs, and the like, connected by a flexible cable to the mattress frame, and which are subject to getting out of order, overrunning and piling up of the cable, and sometimes complete jamming of the mechanism. Since such devices are customarily built into the interior body frame of the crib, repair or replacement of parts or disentangling of the cable is a major and diflicult operation.

An object of the present invention is to provide a device of the character described made up of a unitary assembly of parts and which may be quickly and easily secured in place in the headboard of a crib and simply connected by cables to the mattress frame, and wherein the design and construction of the parts is such that the mechanism will be completely foolproof and safe in its operation, and positively avoid the tendencies of former devices in the piling up and entanglement of cable and jamming and breakage of the mechanism.

Another object of the invention is to provide a mechanism of the character above which is essentially effortless and smooth in its operation and will safely and securely hold the mattress frame at any desired position over the full range of movement provided for the mattress frame.

A further object of the invention is to provide a mechanism of the character described in which the design and sturdiness of the several parts making up the mechanism permits a complete enclosure of the mechanism within the frame of the crib without exposure of projecting or moving parts which may constitute a safety hazard for the crib occupant and others, and in which the expected life of the mechanism is at least as long as that of the crib, so that no dismantling of the crib need be contemplated to effect repair or replacement throughout the normal life expectancy of the crib.

The invention possesses other objects and fea tures of advantage, some of which, with the foregoing, will be set forth in the following description of the preferred form of the invention which is illustrated in the drawings accompanying and forming part of the specification. It is to be understood, however, that variations in the showing made by the said drawings and description may be adopted within the scope of the invention as set forth in the claims.

Referring to said drawings:

Figure 1 is a perspective view of a baby crib having incorporated therein a mechanism constructed in accordance with the present invention and having a portion of the rear corner post broken away to more fully disclose the construction thereof.

Figure 2 is a horizontal section through the crib headboard taken on the plane of line 2- of Figure 1.

Figure 3 is a vertical section through the crib headboard taken substantially on the plane of line 3-3 of Figure 2.

Figure 4 is a fragmentary vertical cross-sectional view of the headboard showing the mechanism of the present invention in side elevation.

Figure 5 is a horizontal section taken substantially on the plane of line 5-5 of Figure 4.

Figure 6 is a vertical cross-sectional view of the mechanism illustrated in Figure 4 and is taken substantially on the plane of line 6-6 of Figure 4. I

Figure 7 is a vertical sectional view of the mechanism illustrated in Figure 4 and is taken substantially on the plane of line 1-1 of Figure 4.

Figure 8 is a side elevation of a crib headboard and corner post with portions thereof broken away and shown in cross section to disclose in side elevation a modified form of the construction of my invention.

Figure 9 is a cross-sectional view of the headboard illustrated in Figure 8 on an enlarged scale and is taken substantially on the plane of line 9 9 of Figure 8 with a portion of the mechanism broken away and shown in cross section.

The mechanism of the present invention and as illustrated in the accompanying drawings is adapted for mounting within the headboard ll of a baby crib generally denoted by numeral [2 in Figure 1 and is operatively connected by a flexible cable I3 to the mattress frame [4 of the crib. Preferably, the mattress frame is provided with corner brackets I6 which are mounted for vertical reciprocation within slots ll provided in the corner posts iii of the crib frame. In the form of the invention illustrated in Fig.- ures 1 through '7, the headboard H is provided with an internal groove or channel [9 which extends over the full length of the headboard and registers at its outer ends with vertical openings 2| provided in the corner posts l8 and which openings, in turn, register with the slots l1. Sheaves 22 may be provided in the headboard II at the joinder of the guideways i9 and 2| for supporting the cable I3. A similar arrangement of guideways 23 and sheaves 24 is provided in lower me sides 26 of the crib whereby the cable II has be enemies across 'ihe batman ll down the corner posts l8 at the head of the bed, where connection may be effected to the brackets I6 thereat, and then carried around the sheaves 24 at the lower joindb'r-df trfe eofi'kl' posts and frame sides 26 Vat head of the bed, along the guideways 28 to the corner (posts l8 at the foot of the bed, thence around sheaves 24 up the slots ll provided in such corner posts and over sheaves 21 mounted iffterhifily Within such slots adjacent the upper ends thereof, and back down to the bracigets i6 mounted in the garner .post slots H at the foot of the bed. In manner, a foreshor't eiiiin'g er the cable at headboard u of the crib {sin cause a relative raisin of the frame It while 'a haying-but or cable will p'rrhit -a loiivor'ing of the frame, the latter movement bing 'effeteii in 'the present construction-by the'weigh't and gravitation of the Yra ne w'itliout need of springs.

As illustrated in the "accompanying drawings. mechanism of thapre's'e'nt invention consists, briefly, of a rotary drive means provided in the headboard of the crib and operatively connected cable and effecting upon rotation "in one areling-inof the cable and a raisi of the mattress frame and, conversely, on rotai t ion in an opposite direction, a paying-out of the cableiand lowering of the mattress -frame. ltoteitioh of the drive niah is here conveniently eifected by a manually engageable crank 28. 'Incorporated in the drive assembly -is-a stop means functioning to limit the rotation of the drive andIpaying-out of the cable to a desired lowermost'positionin'g of the mattress treme eha -cogp iating therewith is means automatically functioning to disengage the crank 28 from its 'drive connection'wheh the stop means is effective in limiting further rotation. In this manner, a i mming of the mechanism or overrunning and p31: the cables, frequently encountered in prior-art devicesfii's positively prevented; as is also a manual forcing of the mechanism beyond its stopped position, which has heretofore been a ofst fippingpr-otherwise breaking internal 'iiarts of the mechanism.

The mechanism as above described is composed of a unitary assembly of co acting parts which may be quicklyand easily dropped into 'pla ceand fastened in the headboard H of the cable formed for receipt of the mechanism. '1'he several parts are-assembled in a bracket 29 which maybe conveniently secured to the headboard by screws 41!, ears 25 being for-medon the bracket 28 shown to accommodate certain of the screws. Whenviewed as disposed inFigure 4, thebracket is provided with spaced parallel upper and lower jsides3'l 'and'32, and-serves to support for rotatiou therebtw'een a. 'cable dru'fn 33, the latter being jpliiifalla for rdt'altldh about a Vertical sxisshu having a diametrically extending o e ill'g '34 'foi'iidiiit 6f the Cable T3. 'Rbfiiitlon Oi thedrum "33 "preferably eflected'by 'g'ear 'mea'ns 'l'l'itllifdin'g 'a"15i1i' gear 35 here d'sii'abi'yih the former awormhihroh, and eohnected rer joint relation with the atom By 'means or t axial shaft :1. Aswillbe best seen "in Figure 'z,'th'e gear 38 is formed with an axially extending cylindrical hub 38 which is iournalled for rotation in a bearing opening 39 provided in the side 3| of the bracket 29. The aforementioned stop means is here embodied in the form of a hollow nut 4| threaded into an opening 42 provided in the opposite bracket side 32 in axial alignment with the hub 'boaring oponing 69. Preferably, the gear trad its hub, the mum Is, and the nut 4| are provided with axial bores 43, 44 and 44 respectively for receipt of the shaft 31 and joint rotation of these parts may be conveniently by the provision of a non-circular interfit therebetween. To accomplish this, the shaft 51 may 'be of rectangular cross section as shown in Figures 5 and 'l, and the bores 43, 44 and 46 broached to provide a rectangular cross section ih'ta' -docking with the shaft. Relative iomitudinal displacement of the shaft 31 within the bores 43, 44 and 48 is here prevented by extending the cable l3 through a transverse opening I! provided in the shaft in alignment with drum opening 34, thecable in this manner serving as "an interlocking key to prevent such dnpiacen eht.

Preferably, the drum 3! is formed with an end recess 48 for accommodating and housing the nut 4 I, permitting axial reciprocation of the not upon joint rotation r the drum and mit. fBie'ferablyalso, the threaded connection "hetwem the nut "41 and the bracket side 32 issuch that the nut will screw in an outward direction mm the recess n and "side 3': upon rotation "of the drum in a direction paying-out the cable. in willbeseen from Figure 'L'the'nut is provided an 'ia'n'larged head "4! arranged to engage the inside fa'ce bracket side 52 U0 DTOWBB I BT01) 161 the fifl'flli "screwing Of the nut in an "dlitwii'rd direction, thereby preventing I'm rotation of the shaft 2] and the drum II ulterlockd with "the nut. The mechanism also pro- 'vmes a 'stop "for its opposite terminal position, borresponding to a fully-raised position of the mattressjrrame, by reason or the depthif the recess" 'limitin'g thejinward movementof 'theimt ll. here shown, the recessfl isex'tend'ed-im warmly in the drum to the "cable opening]! so that inward movement or the nut is deterhiined by the engagement of the nut head -H with "the cable. The length or "the should rdugiilycorr'esponii to *the depth of the recess with the cable removed, Thereby permitting in assembly the insertion of the drum in the s a' e provided between the gear "86 and the 'braci etside 3i. rirterinsertionor thedrum'mii 'iihradingdf nut I in'to'operiing "2 to clear the ih'smet-ne opening 14, the cable 'may'be thrb'ug'h the from bpmng T4 and around the venous sheaves of the crib frame as "above dea'ri'd "anchored to the mattress mime br'a'tiluts at a position corresponding to the -glowermest location of the frame. Since h fififa igh't' tliro'u'gh opening is provided in the ts, an initial ithreading or the cable as abovedescribed is'facilit'ated in that an equalized and uniforin'tensio'n may be placed on thecaiiilte fwithotit interference "of the interposed drum. Also,since no direct anchoring of the cable'tb the "driiih'is effected, the strain on 'the cable is automatically self-adjusting throughout the entire life of the unit, and is permitted to equalize on opposite sides or the whenever'the matt'r'ess frame is iowe'red'to its lowermost desired lidsltfoh.

'Rotation of the gear a'nd drum as above described is preferably effected by a worm gear connected to crank 28 and mounted for rotation between the opposed front and rear sides 52 and 53 of the bracket, with the worm gear enmeshed with worm pinion 36. The use of a worm gear is highly desirable for obtaining smooth and effortles rotation of the drum and also for providing a positive holding of the drum against rotation under the weight of the mattress frame, mattress, and crib occupant, without the use of any ratchet or other catch or holding means, the worm and pinion gears inherently and in themselves providing such a locking of the drum except when the drum is rotated by means of the crank 28. In this manner, the mattress frame may be elevated or lowered to any desired position over its full range of movement and the frame will be automatically immovably held in such position, to the entire safety of the crib occupant. This holding of the mattress frame is completely unaffected by jumping or bouncing of the baby within the crib, and is accomplished without any undue strain on the mechanism or likelihood of breaking of any parts or impairment of the operation thereof.

As will be best seen in Figures 5 and 6, the worm gear 5| is supported by a shaft 54 mounted through an axial bore 56 in the gear and having cylindrical end portions 51 and 58 journalled for rotation in aligned openings 59 and 6! in the bracket sides 52 and 53. The section of the shaft 54 extending through the worm may be of rectangular or other non-circular cross section, and the bore of the worm gear is preferably broached to provide an inter-fitting cross section to lock the shaft and gear for joint rotation. Longitudinal displacement of the shaft with respect to the bearing openings 59 and BI may be conveniently prevented as here shown by means of a set screw 6'2 threaded through the wall of the bracket side 52 and engaged in a peripheral recess 63 in the shaft end 57.

As hereinabove noted and as an important feature of the present invention, a detachable connection is provided between the crank 28 and the worm gear so that upon rotation of the drive means to the lowermost position of the mattress frame, where further movement is stopped by nut 4|, an automatic disengagement of the crank from the drive means is eifected to prevent a forcing of the parts. A preferred form of such automatic release is provided in the present construction by threadably attaching the crank to the worm gear so that upon rotation of the drive to the stop as aforesaid further rotation of the crank will effect an unwinding of the threaded connection and a de-coupling of the crank from the worm gear. This construction is best seen in Figure 5, where the crank end 64 is secured to a nut 65 threaded into the end 51 of the worm shaft, the threaded connection being such that the nut 66 is threaded home upon rotation of the crank in a direction reeling in the cable. Upon rotation of the crank in such direction, an en-' larged head 61 on the nut is screwed into abutment with the end face 68 of the worm shaft, when further relative rotation between the nut and the shaft is prevented, and the crank, nut and shaft thereby locked for joint rotation. The frictional grip of the threaded portions will hold the parts in engagement on rotation of the crank in an opposite direction, that is, one paying out the cable from the drums, until the drum is rotated to its end position as determined by stop nut 4l,' when further rotative efi'ort applied to the crank will merely unscrew the nut 66 from the shaft end? 51, thereby de-coupling the drive.

Preferably, the crank end 64 is detachably secured to the nut 61 so as to permit the quick and ready removal of the crank from the mechanism when desired. As here shown, the crank end 64 is inserted within a bore or recess 69 provided in the nut 66 and is releasably retained therein by a spring snap ring H carried in a recess in the bore and engageable in a peripheral groove 12 in the crank end 64, to hold the crank end and nut for joint rotation. The inner terminal end 13 of the crank is here shown of reduced and non-circular cross section adapted to fit a similarly shaped socket at the inner end of recess 68.

A modified form of the invention is illustrated in Figures 8 and 9 wherein the rotary drive means mounted in the headboard I la of the crib includes an elongated drive shaft 14 which extends over substantially the full length of the headboard and into overlying relation to the openings Zla in the corner posts I 8a of the crib. In this manner, drums l5 and Ti may be carried for rotation at the outer ends of shaft 14 for connection to cables [3a, without requiring the extension of the cables through the length of the headboard of the crib.

In this form of the invention, the mechanism is again unitarily assembled in a bracket 29a having lugs 25a and scr ws 30a for mounting to the headboard Ha, and includes a Worm pinion 36a enmeshed with a worm gear 5la in turn connected to the crank 28a by a threaded nut 66a arranged essentially similarly to the corresponding parts in the embodiment first above discussed. In the modified form, the shaft 14 is preferably of non-circular form such as rectangular cross section as illustrated in Figure 9, and is mounted through the hub 38a of gear 35a and through a stop nut are threaded into a bracket side 320. as in the first embodiment. Rotation of crank 28a in a clockwise direction as viewed in Figure 8 of the drawing will rotate the shaft 74 and its drums l6 and 11 in a direction reeling in the cables [3a with a corresponding raising of the mattress frame Ma. In this direction of rotation, the head 49a of nut 4 la is backed away from the bracket side 32a. Upon rotation of the crank 28a, in an opposite or counter-clockwise direction, the

drums l6 and 17 will be rotated to pay out cable and permit a lowering of the frame Ma, and during such rotation the head 49a of nut Mr: is advanced in the direction of the bracket side 32a, to provide a stop to further rotation in this direction when the frame has reached a desiredlowermost position. After reaching this latter position, further clockwise rotation of the crank 28w will unthread nut 66a and effect a de-coupling of the crank drive connection as more fully described in connection with the first embodiment. Preferably, the opposite ends 18 and 19 of shaft M are extended through axial bores provided in the drums 16 and 11 and are formed with cylindrical end portions for journalling in bearings 8| and 82 mounted in the headboard. Preferably, the bores in the drums are broached to fit the noncircular cross section of the shaft to insure rotation of the drums with the shaft. At the same time, some longitudinal movement of the drums on the shafts is desirably permitted for level winding of the cable onto the drums.

The mechanism may be conveniently installed within the headboard by forming the latter of two half-sections as best illustrated in Figures 1, 2, 6 and 9 of the drawings; with appropriate aosaaor.

recesses. grooves and openings provided in the two half-sections to accommodate the mechanism as described and illustrated in the drawings. In such a construction, the worm shaft end may be extended through the outer of the headboard sections as illustrated in Fi ures 1. 6 and 9, for convenient attatchment of the crank, and with the crank provides the only exposed part of the mechanism. As above noted, the crank may be easily detached where it is desired to position the headboard of the crib against a wan or the like or whenever it is desired to prevent operation of. the mechanism by the occupant of the crib.

I claimi 1. A mechanism for raising and lowering a crib mattress frame comprising, rotary drive means adapted for connection to a crib mattress frame to sheet on rotation of said. means in one direction a raising of said frame and on rotation in an opposite direction a lowering of said frame, stop means limiting the rotation of said drive means in said last-mentioned direction to a dsired lowermost position of said frame, manually operable means connected to said drive means to effect rotation thereof to said stopmeans, and means automatically effecting disconnection of said manual means from said drive means upon rotation of said drive means to said stop means.

2. A mechanism for raising and lowering a crib mattress frame comprising, gear means providing a rotary drive adapted for connection to a cribmattress frame to effect on rotation of said means in one direction a raising of said frame and on rotation in an opposite direction a lowerlng of said frame, stop means limiting the rotation of said gear means in said lastmentioned direction to a desired lowermost position of said frame, a manually operable crank means releasahly connected to said gear means for eflectim rotation thereof to said stop means, and means automatically effecting disconnection of said crank means from said gear means upon rotation of the latter to said stop means.

3. A mechanism for raising and lowering a crib mattress frame comprising, a cable drum journallod for rotation, cable connected to said drum for connection to a crib mattress frame to effect on. rotation of said drum in one direction a raising of said frame and on rotation in an opposite direction a lowering of said frame, stop means limiting the rotation of said drum in said last mentioned direction to a desired lowermost position of said frame, gear means connected to said drum for effecting rotation thereof, a, unnually operable crank releasably connected to said gear means for effecting rotation thereof and said drum to said stop means, and means functioning to automatically disconnect said crank from said gear means upon rotation of saiddrum to said stop means.

4. A crib mattress frame lowering mechanism comprising, a bracket adapted for mounting onthe headboard of a crib, a drum journalled for rotation by said bracket, a cable carried by said drum for connection to said frame to effect 9. raising of said frame upon rotation of said drum in one direction and a lowering of said frame on rotation of said drumin. an opposite direction, gear means carried by said bracket and connected to said drum for effecting rotation thereof, screw means carried for rotation with said drum. and threadably connected to said bracket for the rotation of said drum in said last mentioned direction to a desired lowermost position of said frame, a crank releasably connected to said gear means for effecting rotation thereof, and means automatically breaking the drive connection of said crank and gear means upon rotation of said drum to its stop position aforesaid.

5. A crib mattress frame raising and lowering mechanism comprising, a bracket adapted for mounting on the headboard of a crib, a drum journalled for rotation by said bracket, a cable carried by said drum for connection to said frame to effect a raising of said frame upon rotation of said drum in one direction and a lowering of said frame on rotation of said drum in an opposite direction, threaded stop means carried for rotation with said drum and having a limited threaded connection to said bracket limiting the rotation of said drum in said last mentioned direction to a desired lowermost position of said frame, a spur gear connected to said drum for rotation therewith, a worm gear journalled for rotation by said bracket and enmeshed with said spur gear, and a crank connected to said worm gear for rotation thereof, said crank having a, threaded connection to said worm gear arranged to look upon rotation in said first-mentioned direction and to automatically unlock upon rotation in said second-mentioned direction when said stop position of said drum is reached.

6. A mechanism for raising and lowering a crib mattress frame comprising, rotary drive means adapted for connection to said frame to effect on rotation of said means in one direction 2. raising of said frame and on rotation in an opposite direction a lowering of said frame, stop means limiting the rotation of said drive means in said last-mentioned direction to a desired lowermost position of said frame, a crank having a threaded connection to said drive means for rotation thereof, said connection being arranged to tighten to a locked position on rototion of said crank to effect rotation of said drive means in said first direction and to loosen to a decoupled drive connection on rotation of said crank in an opposite direction after movement of said drive means is prevented by said stop means.

'7. In a mattress frame raisingv and lowerini mechanism, a bracket having spaced parallel sides, a spur gear formed with a hub journalled for rotation in one of said sides, a nut threaded into the other of said sides in axial alignment with said hub, said hub and not having axially aligned bores, a shaft mounted in said bores and providing joint rotation of said gear and nut, a drum having an axial bore mounted on said shaft for rotation therewith, said drum and shaft being formed with aligned openings, a cable mounted through said openings and adapted for connection to said frame and for winding onto said drum whereby rotation of the latter in one direction will effect a raising of said frame and rotation in an opposite direction will effect a lowering of said frame, a worm gear mounted for rotation on said bracket and enmeshed with $8111 pur Bear. a crank having a threaded connection to said worm gear for rotation thereof and driving of said drum, said nut being formed with a shoulder engageable with the adjacent bracket side to limit the rotation of said drum in its second-mentioned direction corresponding to a desired lowermost position of said frame, the threaded connection of said crank to said worm gear being such as to lock the two togetheronrotationoflaidcrankinadirection corresponding to the first-mentioned direction of said drum and to decouple to a loose connection on rotation of said crank in an opposite direction after movement of said drum is prevented by said nut.

8. In a mattress frame raising and lowering mechanism, a bracket having spaced parallel sides, a spur gear formed with a hub journalled for rotation in one of said sides, a nut threaded into the other of said sides in axial alignment with said hub, said hub and nut having axially aligned bores, a shaft mounted in said bores and providing joint rotation of said gear and nut, a drum having an axial bore mounted on said shaft for rotation therewith and having an end recess housing said nut permitting axial movement of said nut in said recess, a cable carried by said drum for winding thereon and adapted for connection to said frame to effect a raising of said frame upon rotation of said drum in one direction and a lowering of said frame upon rotation of said drum in an opposite direction, said nut having a shoulder engageable with the adjacent bracket side to limit the rotation of said drum in one direction and the axial depth of said recess coacting with said nut to limit the rotation of said drum in an opposite direction, a worm gear mounted for rotation on said bracket and enmeshed with said spur gear, and a crank connected to said worm thereof.

9. A crib mattress frame raising and lowering mechanism comprising, a bracket adapted for gear for effecting rotation mounting on the headboard of a crib substantially centrally of the length thereof, an elongated drive shaft carried for rotation by said bracket and projecting from the opposite sides thereof with the opposite ends of said shaft disposed in overlying relation to the corner posts of said crib, a. drum mounted on each of said shaft ends for rotation therewith, cables carried by said drums and adapted for connection to said frame for effecting vertical displacement thereof upon rotation of said drums, gear means carried by said bracket and connected to said shaft for effecting its rotation, stop means limiting the rotation of said shaft in a frame lowering direction to a desired lowermost position of said frame, a crank having a detachable drive connection to said gear means, and means automatically effecting a decoupling of said drive connection between said crank and said gear means upon rotation of said crank to effect rotation of said shaft to said stop means.

JESSE J. ROBBINS.

References Cited in the file of this patent UNITED STATES PATENTS Number Name Date 322,645 Schlichting July 21, 1885 897,381 Louden Sept. 1, 1908 1,040,795 Skeflington Oct. 8, 1912 1,110,865 Barbee Sept. 15, 1914 2,325,379 McNabb et al Aug. 10, 1943 

